Exposing the Enemy's Hidden Tactics

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world—but not at first.

When you plant it, for the first three to five years, it seems like nothing is happening. You water it, you watch it, and you wait. But above ground? Silence. Stillness.

You might be tempted to write it off—“Maybe it’s dead. Maybe I planted it wrong. Maybe this was a waste.”

But underground, something powerful is happening. Roots are growing. Foundations are spreading. And then, suddenly—when the time is right—it explodes upward, growing as much as three feet a day.

People underestimate bamboo because they don’t see what’s happening. But just because it’s hidden doesn’t mean it’s harmless—or inactive.
 
Jesus tells us a story in Matthew 13 about a field where wheat was planted—but an enemy came while everyone was sleeping and sowed weeds in the same soil.

And just like that bamboo, the enemy’s work often begins underground—hidden, subtle, unnoticed.

•We underestimate him because we don’t see him. We assume we’re fine because everything looks okay on the surface.

•But the Devil doesn’t need the spotlight—he just needs you to stop watching. He does his finest work when we’re asleep, distracted, and comfortable.

And before we realize it, the weeds have taken root.

Today, we are going to examine the Parable of the Weeds and hear the call of Jesus to take seriously our enemy.

Matthew 13:24-30
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Context: Here are a few things to keep in mind as Jesus is speaking to his audience in parables.

•Now, what is a parable?
oThe word “PARABLE” MEANS TO “CAST ALONGSIDE.”  A parable is a story that teaches something new by putting the truth alongside something familiar.  The people here know about the seeds and soil, so the Parable of the Sower would have interested them.

WARREN WIERSBE SAYS, “A parable starts off as a picture that is familiar to the listeners. But as you carefully consider the picture, it becomes a mirror in which you see yourself, and many people do not like to see themselves…But if we see ourselves as needy sinners and ask for help, then the mirror becomes a window through which we see God and His grace.  To understand a parable and benefit from it demands honesty and humility on our part.”

The second thing about the context that I want to point out is that in Galilee, where we find Jesus in this story, the wheat root was less stable than that of a weed.

FREDERICK DALE BRUNER SAYS, Practically speaking, “the roots of wheat in Galilee were weaker than the roots of weeds, so that pulling up weeds near wheat often meant pulling up both.”

Remember, this teaching immediately follows the Parable of the Soils, and we see that in the good soil, the crop would have bene 30, 60, or 100fold.

Also, for the sake of context, let’s look for a moment at the elements of the story.

Look at the various elements that Jesus introduces to us.

The Story’s Elements
•Sower of good seed
•Field
•Good seed
•Weeds
•Enemy
•Harvest
•Harvesters

Now, once again, the disciples are going to go to Jesus and say, “Can you explain this to us?”

Let’s read this explanation in verses 36-43.

Matthew 13:36-43
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Having this explanation given, let’s now look at the elements of the story again, and Jesus’ explanation of each.

The Story’s Elements and Explanation
•Sower of good seed: Jesus
•Field: the world
•Good seed: people of the kingdom
•Weeds: people who belong to the evil one
•Enemy: The devil
•Harvest: Judgment at the end of the age
•Harvesters: Jesus’ angels

Ok, now that we are armed with the big picture, let’s start to break this down into something truly digestible and impactful.

The first thing we must take from this story is…

I.We must take the enemy seriously.

Notice what we must about the enemy.

First, it is “his” enemy.

Matthew 13:25
but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

BRUNER STATES…“The enemy is specifically ‘his enemy,’ that is the Sower’s enemy, indicating that God’s good work in his history is strangely opposed.”

Now, verse 39 tells us that the enemy who sowed the weeds is the devil.

What does the world tell us about the devil?

I ASKED CHAT GPT, “CHAT, HOW DOES POP CULTURE PORTRAY THE DEVIL TO US.” THIS WAS THE RESPONSE:
In today’s pop culture, the Devil is portrayed in a variety of ways that often blend folklore, fiction, and religious symbolism. Here are some of the most common beliefs and depictions:
 
1. The Devil as a Tempter or Deal-Maker
•Common trope: The Devil offers people fame, fortune, love, or power in exchange for their soul.
•Pop culture examples:
oFaust legend (classic literature and operas) -- Faust (/faʊst/ FOWST, German: [faʊst] ⓘ) is the protagonist of a classic German legend. The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The Faust legend has been the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works that have reinterpreted it through the ages. "Faust" and the adjective "Faustian" imply sacrificing spiritual values for power, knowledge, or material gain.[1]
 
2. The Devil as a Charismatic Anti-Hero
•Common trope: Rather than being purely evil, the Devil is charming, witty, misunderstood, or even sympathetic.
•Pop culture examples:
oLucifer (Netflix) – portrayed as a suave, morally complex nightclub owner
oFilms like The Devil’s Advocate (Al Pacino's character)
 
3. The Devil as a Symbol of Rebellion
•Common trope: The Devil represents freedom from religious or societal constraints, especially in youth or counterculture movements.
•Pop culture examples:
oHeavy metal and rock imagery (pentagrams, inverted crosses, lyrics about defiance)
oHorror films that explore satanic cults as anti-establishment groups
 
4. The Devil as a Comic or Satirical Figure
•Common trope: The Devil is used for humor or satire, often poking fun at religious fears or moral hypocrisy.
•Pop culture examples:
oThe Simpsons – The Devil appears as Ned Flanders or other goofy characters
oSouth Park – Satan is insecure and portrayed in a satirical, absurd way
 
5. The Devil as Pure Evil or a Monster
•Common trope: The Devil is the embodiment of evil, chaos, and destruction, often linked to demonic forces or the apocalypse.
•Pop culture examples:
oThe Exorcist (demonic possession)
oConstantine, The Conjuring universe
oHorror games like Doom or Diablo
 
6. The Devil as a Legal or Bureaucratic Figure
•Common trope: The Devil is a legalistic being who keeps contracts, rules, and loopholes, but always with a trap.
•Pop culture examples:
oBedazzled (2000)
oVarious animated depictions where the Devil is a businessman or lawyer
 
“Pop culture tends to downplay or twist the traditional Christian understanding of Satan as the deceiver, accuser, and enemy of God. Instead, he is often humanized, glamorized, or made relatable for dramatic or comedic effect. This reflects a shift from theological seriousness to entertainment and cultural commentary.”

CHAT GPT recognizes the way the world tries to minimize the devil, evil, and darkness.
And if we aren’t careful, we will allow the culture to minimize or demythologize the devil and we won’t take the enemy seriously.

BRUNER SAYS…“Devil-less theology takes from the church the dramatic matrix within which Jesus himself saw reality enmeshed. A demythologized rather than a remythologized devil, a rationally denied devil rather than a Christ-conquered devil, is a dangerous reality. The devil does not cease to exist because we say he ceases to exist; he reappears in more subtle forms. ‘The Christian devil,’ if we may put it that way, is a devil in chains, but a denied devil is unchained fury.”

The second thing I want you to see in taking the enemy seriously is when he is doing his finest work.

Matthew 13:25
but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

When did the enemy come?

The enemy came when the men were asleep.

WARREN WIERSBE SAYS, “It is when God’s people go to sleep that Satan works.”

Application: We need to Wake Up to the Enemy’s Tactics. Let me give you a few things to think about.

1.Complacency creeps in when we get comfortable.
We stop praying. We stop digging into God’s Word. We stop guarding our hearts. And in that spiritual sleep, the enemy plants seeds of doubt, distraction, and deception—often without resistance.

2.The enemy works while we assume nothing’s happening.
Just because life is quiet doesn’t mean it’s safe. Satan doesn’t need chaos to move—he loves subtlety. A spiritually sleepy Christian may not even notice the weeds growing until it’s too late.

3.Sleepy Christians confuse the blessings of God with the absence of a threat.
We think, “Things are going well, so I must be fine.” But Satan is most dangerous when we least expect it—when we’ve let our guard down.

4.When we’re not spiritually alert, compromise feels normal.
We tolerate sin. We numb ourselves with entertainment. We avoid hard conversations. We stop living with urgency—and start living like the world.

5.Spiritual drowsiness spreads.
A sleepy church leads to a sleepy community. If we want revival, it starts with someone waking up—and that someone might need to be you.
 
? Call to Action:
What area of your life have you stopped watching over?

Where have you let spiritual sleep set in?

It’s time to wake up, armor up, and watch—because the enemy is most active when the church is most passive.

The ancient Greeks pretended to sail away, leaving a giant wooden horse as a “gift” outside the gates of Troy. The Trojans, believing the war was over, opened the gates, brought in the horse, and celebrated.

That night, as they slept, Greek soldiers hidden inside the horse emerged, opened the gates, and let in the full army. The city fell—not by force, but by deception and sleep.
Jesus warns us that the enemy sows weeds not in broad daylight—but at night, while we sleep. Don’t let down your guard. Don’t open the gates to what seems harmless. The enemy is subtle, and the stakes are eternal.

Transition: The second thing that I want you to see is where the enemy does his work.
II.We must understand where the enemy does his work.

Notice again, Matthew 13:25.

Matthew 13:25
but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

Now, let’s look again at the elements and Jesus’ explanation of each so that we are clear about this.

The Story’s Elements and Explanation
•Sower of good seed: Jesus
•Field: the world
•Good seed: people of the kingdom
•Weeds: people who belong to the evil one
•Enemy: The devil
•Harvest: Judgment at the end of the age
•Harvesters: Jesus’ angels

So, we have Jesus, putting the good seed, the people of the kingdom, all over the world. And we have the Devil putting his bad seed, the people who belong to the evil one, right in the midst of them.

WARREN WIERSBE SAYS…“Satan cannot uproot the plants (true Christians), so he plants counterfeit Christians in their midst. In this parable, the good seed is not the Word of God. It represents people converted through trusting the Word. The field is not human hearts; the field is the world. Christ is sowing true believers in various places that they might bear fruit (John 12:23–26). But, wherever Christ sows a true Christian, Satan comes and sows a counterfeit.”

One of the best parts of this story is our realization that when Satan comes against Christ, he is not able to uproot those who belong to Christ, but he is only able to sow the bad seed in the middle of the good, trying to disrupt what God is doing in the world.

But this should not surprise us. In his classic Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Thomas Brooks describes Satan as such:

Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally miserable with himself; he being shut out of heaven, and shut up ‘under the chains of darkness till the judgment of the great day’ (Jude 6), makes use of all his power and skill to bring all the sons of men into the same condition and condemnation with himself. Satan hath cast such sinful seed into our souls, that now he can no sooner tempt, but we are ready to assent; he can no sooner have a plot upon us, but he makes a conquest of us. If he doth but show men a little of the beauty and bravery of the world, how ready are they to fall down and worship him!

Friends, Jesus characterizes the devil as:
•“a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
•When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
•What Jesus, and the rest of Scripture for that matter, tells us is that “[Satan] is an active agent, with powers of intelligence, intentionality, and communication.”  Satan’s “strategy is to deceive, tempt, lie, and backstab. His primary prey is God’s people.”  
•What we discover as we read from Genesis to Revelation is that “at the story’s beginning, the Bible teaches that the snake is deceitful. As the story progresses, the serpent’s strategy alternates between deceiving as a snake and devouring as a dragon.”
•Needless to say, the devil is enemy #1 of the kingdom of God.

However, what Jesus teaches in Matthew 13, and what we must not forget, is that Satan is not an equally sovereign opponent of the Lord. Despite being powerful, “Satan is a creature.” This is why Jesus can say, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41–42).
Satan will be defeated.

And that’s the third thing I want us to look at today…

III.We must understand that Justice is on the way.

Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:39-43
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Now, as a reminder, we spent about 40 weeks last year studying Revelation, so I’m not going to wade into eschatological positions on pre-millennial, pre-tribulation, etc.

But more importantly, I want you to see a few things.

•First, you and I live in the tension of seeking to build lives of righteousness in the midst of evil. As much as we want to cancel evil, we can’t. Instead of focusing on canceling evil, we live in a world where we coexist with it.

•Second, this text reminds us that history and judgment belong to the Lord.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

•Third, we must have a kingdom strategy when we encounter evil.

If you back up a few verses in Romans 12, you see these words.

Romans 12:14-21
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We will encounter evil, and we must deploy kingdom strategies to encounter it…we overcome evil with good!

You see, Jesus will come at the end of the age and he will judge the living and the dead. For those who are evil, who do not belong to Christ, He will justly judge them into a place of condemnation. The Bible describes it as a lake of fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But for those who belong to Christ, Jesus says in Matthew 13:43:

Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

During World War II, the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, and evil seemed to run unchecked. Jews were being hunted, rounded up, and sent to concentration camps. In the city of Haarlem, a quiet Christian watchmaker named Corrie ten Boom and her family saw what was happening—and chose to do good in the midst of evil.

They began hiding Jews in their home, building a secret room behind a wall in Corrie’s bedroom. At great risk to themselves, they provided a place of safety while the world outside was unraveling. Eventually, they were caught. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück, a brutal concentration camp.

In that hellish place, surrounded by cruelty, starvation, and death, Corrie and Betsie still chose to do good. They smuggled in a Bible. They led secret Bible studies. They comforted fellow prisoners. Betsie even told Corrie, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Betsie died in that camp. Corrie survived. And after the war, she traveled the world preaching the gospel—including the message of forgiveness. She even forgave a former Nazi guard who came to her after one of her talks.
 
While the enemy was sowing evil, Corrie was sowing good. While others were cursing the darkness, she lit a lamp.

That’s the call of Jesus’ parable: Even when weeds grow around you, keep being wheat. Keep growing. Keep shining.

You don’t have to fix all the evil in the world. But you do have to choose: Will you sleep through it—or will you sow good in the midst of it?

 
This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, June 29, 2025 from our CityRise Church West U Baptist campus. Check out the full message below!